I will be honest with you. I am a dark-sky advocate, but until just a few weeks ago, I didn’t know these existed. International Dark-Sky Parks/Reserves are meant to be special places where one can enjoy the magic of the night sky without the being hampered by the ill effects of light pollution diminishing the glory.

“To identify and honor protected public lands (national, state, provincial and other parks and notable public lands) with exceptional commitment to, and success in implementing, the ideals of dark sky preservation and/or restoration;

To preserve and/or restore outstanding night skies;

To promote protection of nocturnal habitat, public enjoyment of the night sky and its heritage, and areas ideal for professional and amateur astronomy;

To encourage park administrators to identify dark skies as a valuable resource in need of proactive protection;

To provide international recognition for such parks; and

To encourage parks and similar public entities to become environmental leaders on dark sky issues by communicating the importance of dark skies to the general public and surrounding communities, and by providing an example of what is possible.”

“To identify and honor public or private land and their surrounding communities with exceptional commitment to, and success in implementing, the ideals of dark sky preservation and/or restoration inside and surrounding the core;

To encourage land administrators, surrounding communities and private interest to identify dark skies as a valuable resource in need of proactive protection;

To preserve and/or restore outstanding night skies;

To promote the protection of areas with an exceptional starry night. Ideal for professional and/or amateur astronomy, nocturnal habitats, culture, heritage and/or public enjoyment of the night sky;

To provide international recognition for such sites; and

To encourage other habited or uninhabited areas formed of public and/or private entities to become environmental leaders on dark sky issues by communicating the importance of dark skies and by providing an example of the possibilities of dark sky friendly lighting.”

Many, many years agoI recall being awe struck by a photograph taken from one of our earliest satellites as it circled our earth.
However, nothing in the accompanying article mentioned the light contamination by the urban sprawl that had taken hold on our Atlantic seaboard.
In Belleek we still enjoy a Dark Sky Place and hopefully more places will turn out the lights.